The future of two community-run outdoor skating rinks in Portage la Prairie may be in doubt without city funding.

City councillor Ryan Espey supports providing funds and/or resources for community-run outdoor rinks at Prosvita Park and North East Park.

Portage Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC) executive director Val Garlick spoke at council's committee meeting Monday, asking for additional resources to help build and maintain rinks at Prosvita Park and North East Park. The city's outdoor rink grant program provides $500 for each annually.

Garlick says both rinks rely heavily on volunteers for maintenance and upkeep.

"One of the challenges is that people are burning out," she says. "It's a really big commitment to build, install and maintain that rink throughout winter."

The rink at Prosvita Park was first built in 2011, and then the North East Park surface was added two years later. Neither rink's have an accessible water supply to build the ice. Water has to be brought in by trucks to create the surface, and also for floods. 

Coun. Ryan Espey's involved with building and maintaining both rinks every winter, and says something has to change. He says organizers have relied almost solely on goodwill and donations to get the water to make and flood the surface -- which he says costs thousands of dollars.

PCRC executive director Val Garlick."The community has stepped up and gone above and beyond to make those rinks happen," Espey says. "But it's a very real possibility if (council) doesn't step up and do something, then those rinks might go away. It's a real possibility."

"Asking people to volunteer their time is never a problem in this community," continues Espey. "But the means of actually getting water to the surface we're trying to flood has been a continual challenge. We just don't have the means to do it."

PCRC studied other approaches used by communities across southern Manitoba to provide winter recreation, such as outdoor skating, to find a suitable solution for Portage. The PCRC report looked at Steinbach, Selkirk, Morden, Niverville and Virden. Four of those five communities have outdoor rinks maintained by city parks or public works departments.

"Generally most have staff, time and resources to provide the service," Garlick says. "And that's the request we've made of the city, if they can consider that as part of their budget deliberations."

The construction of two additional outdoor rinks at Red River College and Fort la Reine School was also proposed.

"So much of our year is winter, and skating is something everyone can do," Garlick explains. "It's accessible, affordable and a great way to bring together your neighbourhood."

Council asked city operations to further investigate the request before providing a budget impact assessment.